No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. ix 



Barnstable, $38 67 



Berkshire, 13 90 



Bristol, 30 07 



Dukes, 13 29 



Essex, 34 08 



Franklin, 30 07 



Hampden, 23 32 



Hampshire, 27 48 



Middlesex, 35 39 



Nantucket, 17 60 



Norfolk, 32 93 



Plymouth, 41 21 



Suffolk, 137 43 



Worcester, 22 40 



One rather significant fact bearing upon the future of agri- 

 culture has recently come to your secretary's attention, namely, 

 that from 1900 to 1910 the population of the State increased 

 561,070, or 20 per cent; the urban population increased 558,269, 

 or 17.S per cent; and the rural population 2,801, or 1.17 per 

 cent. The number of farms decreased 798, or 2.1 per cent; 

 acreage in farms decreased 271,123, or 8.6 per cent; and the 

 improved acreage decreased 127,631, or 9.9 per cent. 



In other words, an increased rural population of 2,801 on 

 271,123 acres less of farm land had to feed an increased urban 

 population of 558,269. Of course, this is utterly impossible, 

 and so Massachusetts continues to import her food supply. 

 Our greatest need in the State is farmers, and if we cannot 

 make farmers out of our own people, we must import them 

 from wherever the}' can be found. 



The resettlement of our land by people from other countries 

 continues in some districts, notably in Barnstable and Bristol 

 counties and along the Connecticut River; and we may look 

 for a decided increase in immigration at the close of the war 

 now raging in Europe. Does Massachusetts want these immi- 

 grants? It would seem to your secretary that she does, for 

 undoubtedly many of them will be of a very desirable class and 

 will come to make permanent homes. When this immigration 

 begins, we should be in a position to offer these people facilities 

 for finding agricultural opportunities, and sufficient credit to 

 enable them to begin business, both of which subjects will be 

 treated later in this report. 



